March is Women’s History Month

A man and his father are traveling by car. The car stalls at some railroad tracks. A train comes along and hits the car. The father is killed instantly. The man is severely injured. They take the man to the hospital. The surgeon takes one look at the man and says, “I can’t operate on this man. He is my son!”

How can that be?

Answer: The surgeon is his mother.

I’ve been posing this riddle during many of my conversation with friends & protegees for years and asking how many people got it. The number of hands that shoot up has increased dramatically.

Why do I bring this up? March is Women’s History Month to highlight the contributions of women in history and contemporary society. Although the International Women’s Day is March 8, Nigeria had theirs Sunday, March 30.

It’s interesting to note that Women’s History Month traces its beginnings back to 1911 when the California school district of Sonoma started a Women’s History Week. But it wasn’t until 1980 that President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week.

The proclamation stated: “From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well ….”

Throughout the next several years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as Women’s History Week. In 1987, March was officially declared Women’s History Month by Congress.

Make no mistake; women have always worked in this country. But they became most visible during World War II, when women worked on the production lines in factories that manufactured many of the supplies for the war effort. Remember Rosie the Riveter and the motto commonly associated with her image? “We can do it.”

Women have been fighting to prove their worth in the workplace for generations.

Lets compare the United States and Most Africa Nations, Nigeria as a case study.

Here are the stats from just a few months ago from colleges and universities across the United States.61% of all the pharmacy graduates are women 63% of the auditors and accountants are women 41% of MBA students are women 47% in law school are women 48% in medical school are women
The number of women entrepreneurs is multiplying two to four times faster than men, depending on which part of the country you study. Last year 74% of all start-up companies were women.

The statistic that really grabs my attention is that women entrepreneurs and business owners employ more people than the Fortune 500 companies combined.

Although, it is quite unfortunate that most African Nations are not able to present statistical data for posterity sake as to help planning and development but one thing is certain and known as fact, the most populous state in Nigeria and similar regions do not believe in women investment (education or any form of empowerment) and am sure it is just same as other countries in Africa.It is believed, investing in women is a gross waste.But let’s think about it…. Do you not think that with more women in helm of affairs – National policies, Economic affairs, Industrial & Business control etc, we would have a better Continent and Nation?

Another story of a Lady:

I like the story about a first grade teacher who asked her students to fill in the blanks on famous sayings. On the blackboard, the teacher wrote, “A miss is as good as a ________.” Immediately a little girl raised her hand, stood beside her desk, and said proudly, “A miss is as good as a mister.”

‘Post Credit: Harvey Mckay + JVmorris‘

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